Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
?10152025CA 02265430 l999-03- 16ABSORBENT ARTICLE FOR PREVENTION OF SIDEWARD LEAK NHQNThe present invention relates to an absorbent article, including urine-absorbent pads, which is used inside a disposable diaper, and a sanitary napkin whichis laid on top of the article to provide an absorbent article which exhibits excellentliquidâabsorbing properties. A common means for caring for individuals suffering fromincontinence is the use of an absorbent article, such as urine-absorbent pad, worninside a disposable diaper. A conventional urine-absorbent pad contains a facinglayer and a backing layer, with an absorbent core interposed between the layers. Thefacing layer, which faces the wearer in use, is liquid-permeable. The backing layer,which faces the disposable diaper in use, is liquid-impermeable. The absorbent coreis formed from crushed pulp or a mixture of crushed pulp and super absorbent polymer(SAP). In addition, the urine-absorbent pad has an adhesive layer which sticks to theinside of the disposable diaper so as to prevent the urine-absorbent pad from slippingout of place in the disposable diaper. AThe urine-absorbent pad receives a liquid insult directly in the case ofan incontinence episode, and has the capacity to retain an amount of urine excreted byan adult during one or two episodes. The pad must be replaced as it is saturated withurine, which depends on the frequency of episodes, in order to prevent liquid frommoving to the disposable diaper. Thus, it isppossible to avoid the replacement of thedisposable diaper by frequently changing the wet pad. However, this is not alwayspossible, such as during periods of sleep, when the urine-absorbent pad is left in placefor a long time. After repeated liquid insults, the urine-absorbent pad cannot absorbadditional liquid, which results in excess liquid leaking from the pad.The problem is that the excess liquid ?ows to the side or periphery?102030CA 02265430 2004-09-072(which is in contact with the groin) rather than to the center of the disposable diaper(absorbent area of the disposable diaper), because the backing layer of the urine-absorbent pad is impermeable to liquid and faces the center of the disposablediaper. The periphery of the conventional disposable diaper does not sufficientlyabsorb urine, thereby causing it to leak at the sides of the diaper, which results inwet clothes or sheets. This same problem also occurs if two sanitary napkins areworn together on top of each other.SUMMARY OF THE lNVt_=._NTlQ_MThe present invention provides an absorbent article that prevents liquidfrom leaking from the sides of the article.The invention further provides an absorbent article which efficientlyabsorbs liquid when used in combination with another absorbent article.According to one embodiment of the present invention there isprovided an absorbent article for wear inside another absorbent article, comprising:a liquid-permeable facing layer which faces a wearer during use; a liquid-permeablebacking layer which faces the other absorbent article during use; an absorbent coreinterposed between the facing layer and the backing layer; first and secondadhesives disposed on the backing layer, the second adhesive being located onboth sides of the absorbent article lying opposite one another in a widthwisedirection thereof, the first adhesive being located closer to a center of the absorbentarticle in the widthwise direction thereof than the second adhesive; and a liquid-impermeable covering sheet removably attached to the backing layer through thefirst and second adhesive to thereby cover an entire surface of the backing layeropposite the surface adjacent to the core, an adhesive force of the second adhesiveto the covering sheet being stronger than an adhesive force of the first adhesive tothe covering sheet; wherein when the covering sheet is removed to expose both thefirst and second adhesive during use, the first adhesive exhibits a stronger adhesiveforce to the other absorbent article than the second adhesive.The absorbent article of the present invention is designed to be worninside of another absorbent article such as a disposable diaper, urineâabsorbent?102030CA 02265430 2004-09-073pad, or sanitary napkin. The absorbent article absorbs a certain amount of liquid bythe absorbent core but permits excess liquid which remains unabsorbed by the coreto pass through the backing layer for absorption by another absorbent article wuchas a disposable diaper. Accordingly, the leakage of excess liquid from the side ofthe absorbent article is prevented.The backing layer is provided with a liquid-impermeable covering sheetthat can be removed at any time when necessary. With the covering sheet on, itstops the flow of urine; with the covering sheet removed, it permits the passage orurine. When frequent changing of the absorbent article is possible, such as duringthe daytime, it may be used with the covering sheet attached to prevent frequentreplacement of the second absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper, used incombination with absorbent article. When frequent changing is unlikely, such asduring periods of sleep, the absorbent article may be used with the covering sheetremoved, thereby absorbing liquid efficiently and securely in combination withanother absorbent article.The backing layer is provided with an adhesive means for fastening thebacking layer to another absorbent article. In such a structure, the absorbent articlewill not slip out of place, and the movement of liquid to the other absorbent articleis ensured.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFig. 1(A) is a perspective view showing a urineâabsorbent pad as anexample of an absorbent article according to the invention.Fig. 1(B) is a plan view of the urine-absorbent pad shown in Fig. 1(A),as viewed from a backing layer, with a covering sheet attached.Fig. 1(C) is a plan view of the urine-absorbent pad shown in Fig. 1(B),as viewed from the backing layer, with the covering sheet removed.Fig. 2 is a perspective view which illustrates how the urine-absorbentpad of Fig. 1(A) is used in combination with a disposable diaper.Fig. 3 is a plan view which illustrates how the urine-absorbent padshown in Fig. 1(A) is used in combination with a disposable diaper.Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Fig.?10152025CA 02265430 1999-03- 16Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the urine-absorbent pad shown in Fig.1(A) which is folded for use by a man, with its shape so modified as to enclose a penis.Fig. 6(A) is a plan view of a urine-absorbent pad as another exampleof the absorbent article according to the invention, as viewed from a backing layer,with a covering sheet attached.Fig. 6(B) is a plan View of the urine-absorbent pad shown in Fig.6(A), as viewed from the backing layer, with the covering sheet removed.Figs. 7(A) and 7(B) are perspective views of examples of openings.Fig. 8(A) is a plan view of a urine-absorbent pad as another exampleof the absorbent article according to the present invention, as viewed from a backinglayer, with a covering sheet attached.Fig. 8(B) is a plan view of the urine-absorbent pad shown in Fig.8(A), as viewed from the backing layer, with the covering sheet removed.Fig. 9 is a plan view of another embodiment of the urine-absorbentpad shown in Fig. 8(A), with the covering sheet removed.D£EI A urine-absorbent pad, as an example of one embodiment of theabsorbent article according to the invention, is shown in Fig. 1(A) (perspective view),Fig. 1(B) (plan View as viewed from a backing layer, with a covering sheet attached),and Fig. 1(C) (plan view as viewed from the backing layer, with the covering sheetremoved).The urine-absorbent pad 20 comprises a liquid-permeable facinglayer 21 which faces the wearer in use, and a backing layer 22, which faces adisposable diaper in use, and an absorbent core 23 which is interposed between the twolayers.The facing layer 21 can be made from a nonwoven fabric ofhydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers containing a hydrophilic surfactant, or the like,?10152025CA 02265430 1999-03-16which can be formed by various processes such as point bonding, through-air bonding,spun bonding, or spun lacing.The backing layer 22 is made of a liquid-impermeable, breathablesheet of resin, such as polyolefin.The absorbent core 23 is formed from crushed pulp or a mixture ofcrushed pulp and SAP (super-absorbent polymer), and is covered with an absorbingsheet 23a such as tissue. (See Fig. 4.) The SAP can be made of polyacrylic acid,sodium polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl alcohol, an additionpolymer of maleic anhydride, a polyether, a condensed polymer, a polysaccharide suchas starch or cellulose, a protein such as collagen and the like. Examples of the SAPSinclude cross-linked compound of sodium polyacrylate, graft copolymer of starchhaving sodium polyacrylate and graft copolymer of cellulose having polyacrylonitrilechains.The absorbent core 23 is rectangular in shape as indicated by thedotted lines in Figs. 1(B) and 1(C). It may also take on an hourglass shape. Withthe absorbent core 23 interposed, the facing layer 21 and the backing layer 22 arebonded together with a hot-melt adhesive, or the like, along the periphery of theabsorbent core 23.As used herein, the âabsorbing areaâ refers to the area which issurrounded by the dotted lines in Figs. 1(B) and 1(C) and the area of the absorbentcore 23.The urine-absorbent pad 20 has elastic members 24 which aredisposed between the facing layer 21 and the backing layer 22 and extend in thelengthwise direction (Y direction) of the urine-absorbent pad 20. The elasticmembers 24 exist in side areas where the absorbent core 23 is absent (i.e., outside ofthe absorbing area in the widthwise direction (X direction) of the urine-absorbent pad20). The elastic members 24 are bonded to the facing layer 21 and the backing layer?10152025CA 02265430 l999-03- 1622 in its stretched state in the Y direction (with a certain per cent elongation). In theirfree state, they shrink in the Y direction, causing the facing layer 21 and the backinglayer 22 to form gathers 25 on both the side areas of the urine-absorbent pad 20 in theX direction.As shown in Fig. 1(C), the backing layer 22 is made of a liquid-impermeable resin sheet and has openings 22a, through which openings the absorbingsheet 23a (e.g., tissue) covering the absorbent core 23 is exposed. In this embodiment,the openings 22a constitute liquid-passing areas indicated by (a).The openings 22a (or the liquid-passing areas (a)) are arranged sideby side approximately at the center of the absorbing area in the widthwise direction (Xdirection) and are elongated parallel to each other in the lengthwise direction (Ydirection). In other words, they are situated substantially at the center of theabsorbing area. The area of the openings 22a is smaller than that of the absorbingarea.The backing layer 22 has an adhesive layer 26 as an adhesive means.The adhesive layer 26 is formed on the backing layer 22 in such a way as to surroundthe openings 22a individually. This adhesive layer 26 aids in fastening a coveringsheet 27 to the outside of the backing layer. 22, as shown in Fig. 1(B). Thus thecovering sheet 27 closes the openings 22a. â In other words, the adhesive layer 26surrounds the openings 22a completely, and the covering sheet 27 is bonded to thisadhesive layer 26. Therefore, with the covering sheet 27 attached, the liquid-passingareas (a) are closed and the backing layer 22 of the urine-absorbent pad 20 preventsliquid from passing through.The covering sheet 27 is made of a liquid-impermeable andbreathable sheet of resin such as polyolefin, like the backing layer 22. The adhesivelayer 26 is formed from a gum adhesive or acrylic resin, to permit the covering sheet27 to be removed at any time from the backing layer 22, and retains a certain adhesivepower even after the covering sheet 27 has been removed. When the urine-absorbentpad 20 is used in combination with a disposable diaper, the adhesive layer 26 (with the?10152025CA 02265430 1999-03- 16covering sheet 27 removed) adheres to the inside of the disposable diaper, therebypreventing the urine-absorbent pad 20 from slipping out of place. In addition,because the urine-absorbent pad 20 is in contact with the disposable diaper, the passageof urine to the disposable diaper is secured.The covering sheet 27 has a tab 27a formed at its end. This tab 27ais not bonded to the backing layer 22.The urine-absorbent pad 20 is used in combination with a disposablediaper 1 (shown in Figs. 2 and 3) one over the other, with the former placed inside ofthe latter. The disposable diaper 1 has the shape of an hourglass and consists of afront part 1A (faces the abdomen of the wearer in use), a rear part 1B (faces the hip orback of the wearer in use), and a middle part 1C (faces the groin in use).The disposable diaper 1 has a liquid-perrneable inner layer 2 and aliquid-impermeable outer layer 3, with an absorbent body 4 interposed between them.The absorbent body 4, which has the shape of an hourglass, is formed from crushedpulp or a mixture of crushed pulp and SAP and is enclosed with an absorbing sheetsuch as tissue.The middle part 1C of the disposable diaper 1 has longitudinallyextending elastic bodies 5 at its side edges and between the inner layer 2 and the outerlayer 3, so that the elastic bodies 5 form gathers 6 when they shrink.The inner layer 2 of the rear part 1B has fasteners (hooks) 7 at itsedges. The outer layer 3 of the front part 1A also has fasteners (piles) 8. To wearthe disposable diaper 1, the fasteners 7 and 8 are engaged with each other around thewaist of the wearer.Although the disposable diaper 1 described herein is an example ofthe open type, the urine-absorbent pad 20 of the invention may also be used incombination with a disposable diaper of the pants type in which the front part 1A andthe rear part 1B are bonded together at their edges.If the user can frequently change the absorbent pad, for example,during the daytime, the urine-absorbent pad 20 is used with the covering sheet 27?10152025CA 02265430 1999-03- 16attached. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. l(B), the openings 22a in the backinglayer 22 remain closed by the covering sheet 27 which is fixed by the adhesive layer 26formed around the openings 22a. Therefore, the openings 22a (liquidâpassing areas(a)) are completely closed and urine does not leak from the urine-absorbent pad 20through the openings 22a.The urine-absorbent pad 20 is placed on the inner layer 2 of thedisposable diaper 1, with the backing layer 22 facing the disposable diaper 1, as shownin Figs. 2 and 3. In this embodiment, to prevent the urine-absorbent pad 20 fromslipping out of place, the backing layer 22 may be provided with another adhesivelayer 28 as another adhesive means which does not face the covering sheet 27, asshown in Fig. 1(B), and adheres to the inner layer 2 of the disposable diaper 1.Alternatively, the adhesive layer 28 may be formed on the covering sheet 27. In thiscase, the adhesive force by the adhesive layer 28 between the covering sheet 27 and theinner layer 2 should be weaker than the force by the adhesive layer 26 between thebacking layer 22 and the covering sheet 27, so that the covering sheet 27 will notaccidentally be removed from the urine-absorbent pad 20 when the urine-absorbentpad 20 is removed from the disposable diaper 1.The urine-absorbent pad 20, with the covering sheet 27 attached,functions in the same way as a conventional urine-absorbent pad. If the absorbentcore 23 has a capacity to absorb about 300 cc of urine, there will be little leakage fromthe urine-absorbent pad 20 after urinary incontinence (one or two episodes), assumingthat about 150 cc of urine is excreted each time. If the urine-absorbent pad 20 isreplaced whenever incontinence occurs, little or no urine reaches the absorbent body 4of the disposable diaper 1. Thus, the disposable diaper 1 can be used continuouslywithout being soiled.Alternatively, when the ability to change the urine absorbent pad islimited, for example, during periods of sleep, the urine-absorbent pad 20 is placed onthe disposable diaper 1 (as shown in Figs. 2 and 3), with the covering sheet 27removed (as shown in Fig. 1(C)). The covering sheet 27 can be removed easily by?10152025CA 02265430 1999-03- 16pulling the tab 27a projecting from it as shown in Fig. 1 (B). After the covering sheet27 has been removed, the adhesive layer 26 on the backing layer 22 is exposed andadheres to the inner layer 2 of the disposable diaper 1, thereby preventing the urine-absorbent pad 20 from slipping out of place. Incidentally, if the adhesive layer 28 isformed on the backing layer 22, it also helps the urine-absorbent pad 20 to adhere tothe disposable diaper 1.When the covering sheet 27 is removed, the openings 22a in thebacking layer 22 open to form the liquid-passing areas (a), and the absorbent core 23 isexposed through these openings 22a. Therefore, when the urine-absorbent pad 20 isplaced on the disposable diaper 1 as shown in Fig. 3, the absorbent core 23 faces theinner layer 2 of the disposable diaper 1 through the openings 22a.The flow of urine in the embodiment described above is illustrated inFig. 4, which is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 3. The absorbentcore 23 of the urine-absorbent pad 20 absorbs a large portion of urine but permits anyremaining urine to pass through the openings 22a (liquid-passing areas (a)) in thebacking layer 22 to be absorbed by the absorbent body 4 of the disposable diaper 1.Assuming that the amount of urine is about 150 cc when incontinence occurs once,about 100 cc will be absorbed by the absorbent core 23 of the urine-absorbent pad 20and the remaining 50 cc will be absorbed by the absorbent body 4 of the disposablediaper 1. Upon passing through the openings 22a, the urine moves mostly to thecenter of the absorbent body 4 where it is absorbed. Therefore, urine will not leak atthe sides or the gathers 6 of the disposable diaper 1.In the case where incontinence occurs several times (e.g., more thantwo times) and the total amount of urine is greater than 300 cc, e.g., about 450 cc, theabsorbent core 23 of the urine-absorbent pad 20 absorbs about 300 cc of urine and theabsorbent body 4 of the disposable diaper 1 absorbs the remaining 150 cc of urine.Even if incontinence is more frequent, excess urine will move to the absorbent body 4of the disposable diaper 1. Therefore, side leakage of urine can be effectivelyprevented even in the case of frequent incontinence.?10152025CA 02265430 1999-03- 1610The absorbent core 23 of the urine-absorbent pad 20 becomes almostsaturated with urine after incontinence has occurred two or three times. If the urine-absorbent pad 20 is replaced at this stage, the disposable diaper 1 is still usable becausethe absorbent body 4 of the disposable diaper 1 has not yet absorbed urine to its fullcapacity. Therefore, frequent replacement of the disposable diaper 1 can beprevented.Two or more urine-absorbent pads 20 (with the covering sheet 27removed) may be placed on the inner layer 2 of the disposable diaper 1, as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 4. In this embodiment, urine is absorbed by each absorbent core23 of the urine-absorbent pad 20. Thus, it is possible to increase the capacity forabsorbing urine and to prevent soiling of the disposable diaper 1 by the urine evenwhere there is frequent incontinence.The urine-absorbent pad 20 described above is designed to be used ina stretched form, having a slight curve. However, it may be so folded as to enclose apenis as shown in Fig. 5. In this embodiment, the urine-absorbent pad 20 is foldedinto a cone shape with the facing layer 21 inside and the lengthwise edges overlapped.This embodiment may be accomplished by bonding the outside of one lengthwise edgeof the urine-absorbent pad 20 to the inside of the other lengthwise edge of the urine-absorbent pad 20 using an adhesive layer 28 (such as double-sided adhesive tape).The penis is inserted into the conically folded pad, which pad is subsequently coveredwith the disposable diaper 1.If the pad can be changed frequently, the urine-absorbent pad 20,which has been folded for males, is used with the openings 22a closed by the coveringsheet 27.When frequent changing of the pad is not available, the urine-absorbent pad 20 thus folded for males is used with the covering sheet 27 removed sothat the openings 22a of the backing layer 22 are exposed. In this case, the urine-absorbent pad 20 should be positioned such that the openings 22a, face the inner layer2 of the disposable diaper 1. The result is the same as that explained above with?10152025CA 02265430 1999-03- 1611reference to Fig. 4. The excess urine which is not absorbed by the absorbent core 23of the urine-absorbent pad 20 passes throughthe openings 22a to be absorbed by theabsorbent body 4 of the disposable diaper 1. Thus, it is possible to cope with frequentepisodes of incontinence.In another embodiment of the absorbent article of the invention, theurine-absorbent pad may be modified as shown in Figs. 6(A) and 6(B). Fig. 6(A) is aplan view of the urine-absorbent pad, as viewed from the backing layer. Fig. 6(B) isa plan view of the urine-absorbent pad, with the covering sheet removed.A urine-absorbent pad 30 shown in Fig. 6(A) is similar in structure tothe urine-absorbent pad 20 shown in Fig. 1(A). It has a facing layer and a backinglayer, with an absorbent core interposed between them, and has gathers (formed byelastic members extending in the Y direction) on both of the side areas thereof.Therefore, it is made of the same materials and is used in the same manner as theabsorbent pads described above.The urine-absorbent pad 30 has a backing layer 31 which is made ofliquid-impenneable resin film (such as polyolefin), similar to the backing layer 22 ofthe urine-absorbent pad 20. The backing layer 31 has a number of openings 31awhich cover the absorbent core (or absorbing area) almost entirely, as shown in Fig.6(B). In other words, this embodiment is constructed such that the liquid passing area(b) coincides substantially with the absorbing area (the area containing the absorbentcore). Incidentally, the openings 31a may be formed in the entire area of the backinglayer 31 although they are confined to the absorbing area in the this particularembodiment.Each of the openings 31a are preferably circular, with a diameterlarger than 0.5 mm, preferably larger than 11 mm. The openings 31a are preferablyarranged with a pitch greater than 1 mm, preferably greater than 1.5 mm. Theadvantage of establishing the size and pitch of the openings 31a as described above isthat the liquid-passing area (b) of the urine-absorbent pad 30 can be recognized visibly.This avoids the possibility of mistaking an ordinary urine-absorbent pad, in which the?10152025CA 02265430 1999-03- 1612backing layer does not have the liquid-passing area, for one of the invention.In the case of the urine-absorbent pad 30 in which the openings 31aare so formed as to cover the absorbent core (or the absorbing area) almost entirely, itis necessary to provide an adhesive layer 32 as described below to ensure properadhesion between the backing layer 31 of the urine-absorbent pad 30 and the innerlayer 2 of the disposable diaper 1. Thus, the adhesive layer 32 is preferably formed inthe absorbing area (or the area in which the absorbent core exists). Assuming that thearea in which the adhesive layer 32 is formed has dimensions of L1 by W1, the lengthL1 (Y direction) should be equal to or smaller than the length L0 of the absorbent corebut greater than 50% of the length L0. In addition, it is preferred that the total area ofthe adhesive layer 32 is less than 60% of the area of the absorbent core in order toensure the smooth ?ow of urine from the backing layer 31 to the disposable diaper 1.When the urine-absorbent pad 30 isâ used in combination with adisposable diaper 1 for adults, it is preferred that the area (L1 by W1) of the adhesivelayer 32 includes the center of the urine-absorbent pad 30 (in the widthwise direction)and the width W1 is within the range of 40 to 50 mm. The adhesive layer 32, formedas described above, prevents the urine-absorbent pad 30 and the disposable diaper 1from displacing each other when they shrink in the widthwise direction (X direction) inthe wearer's groin. In addition, the adhesive layer 32 has little tendency to stick to thewearer's skin and hair.It is preferable for the area (L1 by W1) in which the adhesive layer32 is formed to have a distance W2 of at least 30 mm from the edges of the adhesivelayer 32 to the edge of urine-absorbent pad 30, and a length L2 of at least 30 mm fromthe edge of the adhesive layer 32 to the edge of the urine-absorbent pad 30. Theadhesive layer 32 formed in this manner has little tendency to stick to the wearer's skinand hair when the edges of the urine-absorbent pad 30 are turned up to the groin.Incidentally, in the embodiment of the urine-absorbent pad 20 shownin Fig. 1(C), it is preferable for the adhesive layer 26 to be formed in the same regionas for the adhesive layer 32.?10152025CA 02265430 1999-03- 1613The openings may be positioned and shaped as shown in Figs. 7(A)and 7(B). In Fig. 7(A), comparatively largeround (or elliptic) holes 31b are formedin line extending in the lengthwise direction (Y direction) and approximately at thecenter of the urine-absorbent pad. In Fig. 7(B), one large hole 31c is formed almostequal to the absorbing area (or the area in which the absorbent core exists).Figs. 8(A) and 8(B) show another embodiment of the absorbentarticle according to the present invention embodied in a urine-absorbent pad. Fig.8(A) is a plan view of a urine-absorbent pad as viewed from the backing layer thereof,with the covering sheet attached. Fig. 8(B) is a plan view of the urine-absorbent padas viewed from the backing layer thereof, with the covering sheet removed.A urine-absorbent pad 40 shown in Fig. 8(A) is similar in structure tothe urine-absorbent pad 20 shown in Fig. 1(A). Thus, it contains a liquid-permeablefacing layer and a backing layer, with an absorbent core interposed between them, andhas gathers (formed by elastic members extending in the Y direction) on both of theside areas thereof. It is used in the same manner as described above.The urine-absorbent pad 40 has a backing layer 41 which is made ofliquid-permeable fiber-interlaced nonwoven fabric of hydrophobic fibers and/orhydrophilic fibers with or without water-absorbing fibers such as rayon fibers.Therefore, the backing layer 41 as a whole is permeable to liquid and constitutes theliquid-passing area.On the backing layer 41 strips are formed of a first adhesive layer 42which extend parallel in the lengthwise direction (Y direction) at certain intervals inthe widthwise direction (X direction), as shown in Fig. 8(B). The first adhesive layer42 as a first adhesive means is formed at the center of the backing layer 41 in thewidthwise direction, so that it is positioned within the absorbing area in the widthwisedirection. Preferably, the total area of the first adhesive layer 42 is adequatelyestablished relative to the area of the backing layer 41 so that it will not adverselyaffect the liquid passing function of the backing layer 41.Incidentally, the coating pattern of the first adhesive layer 42 is not?10152025CA 02265430 1999-03- 1614limited to a striped pattern, but may take on any shape, such as, for example, dots orspirals.In addition, the backing layer 41 has second adhesive layers 43, as asecond adhesive means, which are formed at the side areas thereof (gathers areincluded in the side areas) and extend in the lengthwise direction (Y direction). Thefirst adhesive layer 42 and the second adhesive layers 43 allow a single covering sheet44 to be attached to and cover the entire surface of the liquid-permeable backing layer41, as shown in Fig. 8(A). The covering sheet 44 is formed from a liquid-impermeable, breathable resin sheet such as polyolefin. Since the side portions of thecovering sheet 44 in the widthwise direction are attached to the backing layer 41 by thesecond adhesive layers 43, the covering sheet 44, together with the backing layer 41and the facing layer, form gathers by the shrinking force of the elastic members.The first adhesive layer 42 preferably exhibits a prescribed adhesiveforce when the covering sheet 44 is removed. To accomplish this, the first adhesivelayer 42 is formed by coating with a gum adhesive or acrylic resin. In contrast, thesecond adhesive layers 43 should have a moderate adhesive force, such that thecovering sheet 44 can be removed easily by hand and should exhibit very littleadhesive force once the covering sheet 44 has, been removed. To accomplish this, thesecond adhesive layers 43 are formed from a'hot-melt adhesive of EVA or polyolefin.Thus, the second adhesive layers 43 are stronger than the first adhesive layer 42 inadhering to the covering sheet 44, but exhibit a weaker adhesive force than the firstadhesive layer 42 once the covering sheet 44 has been removed.The first adhesive layer 42 and the second adhesive layers 43, asdescribed above, prevent the covering sheet 44 from inadvertently being removed orpeeling off, because the side portions of the covering sheet 44 are attached to thebacking layer 41 by the second adhesive layers 43. When the covering sheet 44 isremoved from the backing layer 41, the first adhesive layer 42 (in a striped pattern)appears at the center (in the widthwise direction) of the backing layer 41 and adheresto the inside of the disposable diaper 1, thereby preventing the urineâabsorbent pad?10152025CA 02265430 1999-03- 1615from slipping out of place. In this case, the second adhesive layers 43 exhibit verylittle adhesive force and therefore do not adhere to the wearer's skin or hair even whenthe side areas of the urine-absorbent pad 40 are facing the groin.A third adhesive layer 45 as a third adhesive means may be formedon the covering sheet 44 as shown in Fig. 8(A). When the urine-absorbent pad 40 isused with the covering sheet 44 attached, and in combination with the disposablediaper 1, the inner layer 2 of the disposable diaper 1 is fastened (bonded) to the thirdadhesive layer 45 so that the urine-absorbent pad 40 stays in position. It is importantthat the adhesive force of the third adhesive layer 45, when applied to the inner layer 2,is weaker than that of the second adhesive layers 43 applied to the covering sheet 44.This embodiment aids in preventing the covering sheet 44 from inadvertent removalfrom the backing layer 41 when the urine-absorbent pad 40 is removed from thedisposable diaper 1.Another embodiment of the urine-absorbent pad 40a is shown in Fig.9, which is a plan view showing the pad with the covering sheet removed. The urine-absorbent pad 40a is identical in structure to the urine-absorbent pad 40 describedabove, except that the backing layer 41 has side layers 46 which are formed from aliquidâimpermeable resin sheet or from a hydrophobic, highly water-resistantnonwoven fabric and the second adhesive layers 43, formed on the side layers 46.That is, the side layers 46 are disposed on both side areas of the backing layer 41 in thewidthwise direction and between the backing layer 41 and the covering sheet. Theside layers 46 are bondedâ to the backing layer 41 by a hot-melt adhesive. With thecovering sheet removed, the side layers 46 appear on both the side areas of the urine-absorbent pad 40a including the gathers.When this embodiment of the urine-absorbent pad 40a is used withthe covering sheet removed, and in combination with the disposable diaper 1, theliquidâimpermeable side layers 46 prevent urine from ?owing to the disposable diaper1, at both side areas of the urine-absorbent pad 40a. Consequently, urine passingthrough the absorbent core of the urine-absorbent pad 40a reaches the center of the?101520CA 02265430 l999-03- 1616absorbent body 4 of the disposable diaper 1. Thus, urine has little or no tendency toleak from the sides of the disposable diaper 1. aWhile the invention has been described in detail in its preferredembodiments, it should be understood that other embodiments may be prepared withinthe scope of the claims.For example, an adhesive layer is not the only means that can be usedto fasten together the urine-absorbent pad and the inner layer of the disposable diaper.It may be replaced by a mechanical means such as hooks attached to the backing layer,which engage with the nonwoven fabric of the inner layer of the disposable diaper toprevent the urine-absorbent pad from slipping out of place.In the embodiment of the urine-absorbent pad for males only, the padmay be pre-formed in the shape of a cone or cylinder during the production process,with the liquid-passing area formed on the outside thereof.The absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to theurine-absorbent pad, but also includes other absorbent articles, including sanitarynapkins and may be used in combination with one another.As used herein, âcomprisesâ and all its grammatical forms specifiesthe presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but dose not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components orgroups thereof.
